Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the finding in the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom 2026 Annual Report, published in March, that 64 Jehovah's Witnesses remained detained in Eritrea and what recent discussions they have had with the government of Eritrea on the release of Jehovah's Witnesses detained for their religious activity or conscientious objection to military service.

I refer the Noble Lord to HL4019 answer on 26 October which is reproduced here for ease of reference.

"The UK regularly raises concerns about arbitrary arrests and detentions based on religion or belief. We have raised this case directly with the government of Eritrea and at the UN Human Rights Council. The UK also supports the work of the UN Special Rapporteur on human rights in Eritrea, voting in favour of his mandate renewal in July 2026."